Clearwater Resident Shares Dengue Experience as Cases Rise in Tampa Bay

A Clearwater resident who contracted dengue fever after a mosquito bite on his patio in late September said he continues to experience lingering gastrointestinal problems nearly two weeks after his illness began. He described the initial symptoms as intense neck and body pain, a fever that reached 103°F, and what he likened to "bone-breaking" pain, leaving him bedridden for three days. > "I felt like I was in an accident. Like I fell off a motorcycle at 30 miles an hour," he said. The patient hopes his story will encourage others to take the disease seriously and adopt preventive measures.

State health data show locally acquired dengue cases in Hillsborough County rose to 259, an increase of 36 from the previous week, with neighboring counties also reporting new infections. Tampa officials have removed 23 tons of tires over the past three months and conducted door-to-door outreach in neighborhoods with reported cases, distributing pamphlets and door hangers urging residents to eliminate standing water in containers such as tires and wheelbarrows. > "We have some pamphlets and some door hangers, and we're letting them know that please, if you have any standing water, any tires, any wheelbarrows, anything in that nature that's holding water, to please dump it, toss it, get rid of it," said Jack Ciucio of Tampa Neighborhood Enhancement.

Hillsborough County commissioners approved more than $4.1 million for dengue control measures, and the City of Tampa is monitoring 85 locations to ensure compliance with standing-water removal requirements. Health officials continue to advise residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to remove potential breeding sites around their homes.